Occurrence and distribution of the exotic lizard Hemidactylus mabouia Moreau de Jonnès, 1818 in Ilha Grande, RJ, Brazil

Exotic lizard Hemidactylus mabouia, known for its adaptability, has been found to predominantly inhabit anthropic and perianthropic areas within Ilha Grande, a UNESCO-listed Atlantic Rainforest site in Brazil. Despite the island's vast dense tropical rainforest coverage, which typically restricts invasive species, H. mabouia was recorded at 100 out of 719 sampled points along 19 trails, exclusively in human-altered environments. This suggests that while the lizard can thrive outside natural habitats, its expansion into pristine areas is likely limited by the dense rainforest ecosystem. The study employed active search methods at regular intervals to map its distribution, providing critical insights into the species' ecological impact on this biodiverse World Heritage Site.

Rocha, C., & Bergallo, H. (2011). Occurrence and distribution of the exotic lizard Hemidactylus mabouia Moreau de Jonnès, 1818 in Ilha Grande, RJ, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 71(2), 447–450. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842011000300014